Romanian is a Romance language in an unexpected corner of Europe
Romanian belongs to the Romance language family, alongside Italian, French, and Spanish, and stands out from most of its Slavic-speaking neighbors by holding onto a large Latin-rooted vocabulary. Look closely and you'll spot the resemblance: Bună (hello) and Mulțumesc (thank you) both echo their Italian and French counterparts.
Formal and casual greetings are used differently
Like many languages, Romanian distinguishes formal expressions -- Bună ziua, La revedere -- used with strangers or in polite settings, from casual ones -- Salut, Pa -- used with friends. The phonetic pronunciation guides on this page are meant as a rough approximation of the sound, and listening to a native speaker is the best way to pick up the real rhythm and intonation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it enough to just know Bună?
Yes -- Bună alone works fine as an all-purpose greeting regardless of the time of day. If you want to sound a bit more polished, using the time-specific versions -- Bună dimineața in the morning, Bună seara in the evening -- is a nice touch.
Why do some Romanian words look like Italian or French?
Romanian evolved from Latin, just as Italian, French, and Spanish did, even though it developed in relative geographic isolation surrounded by Slavic-speaking neighbors. That shared Latin root is why a Romanian word can look surprisingly familiar if you already know another Romance language.